Tuesday, December 17, 2019

425. Etymology of Tulu word: Buḍedi (wife)

A very common word to designate wife in Tulu language is buedi. Even though in Tulu it is a quite a commonplace word, strangely enough, you do not find corresponding words in other sister Dravidian languages. The available clues to the etymology and possible origin of this Tulu word, deserves a pertinent discussion.

Simple etymology: housewife
The etymology of the word buedi, can be simply be explained as:
 būḍu+di, where būḍu means house and the suffix di refers to woman.
Thus the word buedi refers to the woman in charge of the house. Because of the existence of numerous homonyms (and consequent puns) in Tulu, some of you may get a penchant for alternate, somewhat humorous or cynical explanations for the word, but I prefer this simple and straightforward etymology, especially because traditionally the status of a wife has been treated with absolute respect in our culture. Tulu Lexicon is silent on the etymology of this word, buedi.

Analogous word/s in other sister Dravidian languages
On second thoughts, you may find words in Kannada and other languages with similar shades of meanings. For example: maadi (Kannada), maandai (Tamil), maanti (Telugu), maanda (Malayalam), as has been pointed out by Prof G. Venkatasubbaiah in his “Igo Kannada” (2016, combined volume, p.519).
The maadi and a related group of Dravidian words appear to have a different etymology than the Tulu word , buedi.
Nepali influence in Tulu shrine architecture. (Location Hiriadka, Udupi)

Nepali influence on Tulu/Kannada
It is interesting to note that Nepali language has a word for wife akin to the Tulu word buedi.
Bui (Nepali) =wife, woman (compare buedi ,wife, in Tulu).
In fact, many Nepalis are not aware of the origin and etymology of the word bui. Some of them consider it  as Hindi word bui which means a senior or aged woman. In Nepali, husband and wife as well as lovers are referred to as bua and bui.  Thus the exact origin of the Nepali word bui is difficult to decipher at present and until further studies on this. However, for the present we can consider that the Nepali word bui travelled to Tulunadu along with migrants and established itself here in the form of buedi, wherein the suffix -di reflects a Dravidian feminine gender.
According to historical interpretations Kadamba rulers around 5th - 6th century CE,  brought Brahmins from Ahichatra to conduct religious rites in temples of Kadamba region. Along with the Brahmins Neyers accompanied them as assistants and they migrated and settled in parts of Tulunadu and Kerala.
It can be seen that Nepali style of temple architecture has deeply influenced the Tulu - Kerala style of architecture used in construction of shrines and temples. Similarly, it has been suggested that coastal style of house construction involving pyramidal roofs has also been considered as an influence from the Nepali and Tibet architecture.

Ancient words
On overall analysis, the words like bui (Nepali) and buedi (Tulu) appear to be ancient words that have obscure etymologies. There is apparently a related word in Bengali, known as boui. However, this  word in Bengali is used now as an equivalent of Hindi bhabhi or the sister in law.
Apparently some of these ancient words during the course of historical time have evolved independently as per the requirement of the language adopted.

Readers having more insights into such words may kindly share your thoughts with us.
R
Reference:
On Tulu word KanDani: https://tulu-research.blogspot.com/2017/02/379-tulu-tamil-mutual-influence-kandani.html

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Books for Reference

  • A Comparative Study of Tulu Dialects By Dr. Padmanabha Kekunnaya. Govinda Pai Reserach Centre, UDupi. 1994
  • Koti Chennaya: Janapadiya Adhyayana. By Dr. Vamana Nandavar. Hemanshu Prakashana ,Mangalore.2001.
  • Male kudiyaru. Dr B. A.Viveka Rai and D.Yadupathi Gowda, Mangalore University,1996.
  • Mogaveera Samskriti By Venkataraja Punimchattaya. Karnataka Sahitya Academy.1993.
  • Mugeraru:Jananga Janapada Adhyayana. By Dr Abhaya Kumar Kaukradi.Kannada & Culture Directorate,Bangalore & Karnataka Tulu Academy, Mangalore,1997.
  • Puttubalakeya Pad-danagalu. Ed: Dr B.A.Viveka Rai,Yadupati Gowda and Rajashri, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Tulu Peeta. Mangalore University.2004
  • Se'erige. Ed:Dr K.Chinnapa Gowda.Madipu Prakashana,Mangalagangotri,2000.
  • Studies in Tuluva History and Culture.by Dr P Gururaja Bhat (1975).Milagres College,Kallinapur,Udupi.
  • Taulava Sanskriti by Dr.B.A.Viveka Rai, Sahyadri Prakashana,Mysore 1977
  • TuLu naaDu-nuDi By Dr.PalthaDi Ramakrishna Achar, Puttur.
  • TuLu NighanTu. (Editor in Chief: Dr U.P.Upadhyaya, Govinda Pai Research Centre,Udupi. Six volumes. 1988 to 1997
  • Tulu Patero-A Philology & Grammar of Tulu Language by Budhananda Shivalli.2004.Mandira Prakashana Mangalore. p.317. (The book is in Tulu Language using Kannada script)
  • TuLunadina ShasanagaLa Sanskritika Adhyayana. By Shaila T. Verma (2002) Jnanodaya Prakashana,Bangalore, p.304.(Kannada)
  • Tuluvala Baliyendre. Compiled by N.A.Sheenappa Hegde,Polali,Sri Devi Prakashana,Parkala,1929/1999

A Coastal estuary

A Coastal estuary
Holegadde near Honavar,Uttara Kannada dist, Karnataka

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